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Showing posts from July, 2021

Review: Sky Pirates: The Dragon's Gold

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Sky Pirates: The Dragon's Gold by Alex English My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoyed Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond, so I was pleased to receive an ARC of Sky Pirates: The Dragon’s Gold, which is book 2 in the series. It was great fun to return to the world of Echo, and to see Gilbert (possibly my favourite character) again. In this book, Echo is feeling somewhat inadequate, and like the other sky pirates aboard her mother’s airship don’t really think she’s a proper sky pirate. In trying to prove she is, she gets herself (along with Gilbert and Horace) into all sorts of entertaining trouble! This story is full of adventure among the clouds (not to mention under the sea, and on the ground). As well as the excitement, there’s the theme of friends working together. And, of course, a dragon! The writing flows really well, and I love the illustrations - especially the chapter headers, which show an airship. They come across well, even

Review: The Wedding Pact

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The Wedding Pact by Isla Gordon My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve enjoyed Lisa Dickenson/Isla Gordon’s books for many years now, and this one was no exception. This story was so much fun. In order to live in a dream home, August and Flynn tell a lie. We then get to enjoy the tale of how they maintain this, with much hilarity, awkwardness, and some lovely, sweet moments. I really liked Flynn, he seemed kind and caring, though rather overworked! I liked the easy relationship that August and Flynn had, right from the start (though it gets awkward later). I really enjoyed the humorous moments that are sprinkled throughout the story. I read this book when I had a migraine, on the hottest day of the year, and it kept me entertained and interested. I think that speaks pretty highly of it! The epilogue finished the story off really well, tying up not only August and Flynn’s plot, but the other characters too. Overall, this book was a lovely mix of humour and hear

Review: A Good Day for Chardonnay

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A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones My rating: 5 of 5 stars Having reread A Bad Day for Sunshine in preparation, my expectations for A Good Day for Chardonnay were extremely high. Needless to say, Darynda Jones exceeded them, again! She always does. I absolutely loved this book. The characters are fun, and of course I already love most of them from the previous book. The plot is excellent - both that of this individual book, and the overarching plot of the series. I was kept reading well past my bedtime! I absolutely love the community, both the physical setting and the collection of people. I love the relationships between those people, especially Auri and Sun. Their banter is spot on, and their love for each other (in fact, the whole family’s) shines through so strongly. The heat between Sun and Levi has been turned up to sizzling (can’t say more without spoilers). This story is fun, funny, heartwarming, and most of all, will grip you the wh

Review: Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood

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Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood by Ali McNamara My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’m a long-time fan of Ali McNamara, so I’m always excited by a new release from her. I found Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood particularly appealing, as I used to live down the road from a bluebell wood when I was a child. The narrative voice is very gentle, and so I immediately felt relaxed as soon as I started reading. This is one of the things I love about this author. I loved the gentle plot, the lovely cottage, and the friendly village setting. The wood is a huge character too. The character development was excellent, especially Ava’s. I really liked Ava, and of course I loved Merlin, who does such a great job of looking after her. I love the hint of magic that runs through the story - only a subtle stretch from things that do happen. It’s these kind of touches that make Ali McNamara’s writing so special. I also really enjoyed the gentle love story (in fact there are

Review: The Raven Heir

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The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have been a huge fan of Stephanie Burgis for a long time now, and so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Raven Heir, her latest middle grade fantasy novel. I loved the siblings, especially Cordelia, Rosalind, and Giles. At the beginning of the book, they all have their own ideas of what to do, but I loved the way that their strong family bond kept them together. I loved their different takes on magic, and the way they slowly began to put some trust in each other. I especially loved Cordelia’s magic, the connection to the land, and the creatures who live there, is so appealing. And have you seen the beautiful cover? Overall, this was a wonderful, magical adventure, and a story of true family. It’s suitable for children and adults alike. I can’t wait to read whatever Stephanie Burgis writes next. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my review

Review: Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop Jessica Redland

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Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop Jessica Redland by Jessica Redland My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really enjoyed Jessica Redland’s Hedgehog Hollow series, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop (previously published as Charlee and the Chocolate Shop). This book was lovely. It takes place mostly over two Christmas/New Year’s, which sounds slightly odd, but works really well. Charlee sets up a chocolate shop (and what could be a better setting for a book?) in the lovely Whitsborough Bay. I thought all the characters were well realised, they all seemed like real people. The plot was great, a lovely romance that took place over a realistic time scale, and a lovely happy ending (of course). And it’s not just about the romance either, it’s also about family and friendship. If you’re looking for a warm, Christmassy romance, I definitely recommend this one. It’s perfect to snuggle up with on a cold, wintery ev